LITTLE ROCK - Little Rock breaks up its home stretch with its first-ever trip to Martin, Tennessee, taking on UT Martin Saturday. Opening tip from the Elam Center is set for 3:30 p.m. and will stream live on ESPN+ with Trojan Hall of Famer Ray Tucker handling the radio call on 106.7 FM The Buz2, getting underway at approximately 3:15 p.m.
GAME STORYLINES
• Little Rock and UT Martin meet for the fifth time in program history with Trojans winning each of the previous five. All five had taken place in the Little Rock metro area, including Little Rock's 88-74 win the OVC opener at Simmons Bank Arena.
• Little Rock built a 27-point lead on UT Martin in the team's first meeting on December 29 at Simmons Bank Arena, then held off a late Skyhwawk rally for an 88-74 win in its OVC debut.
Myron Gardner scored 23 points with 10 rebounds while
Jordan Jefferson notched 19 points as Little Rock shot 48.3% from the field.
•
Myron Gardner notched his OVC-best 14th double-double against Morehead State, finishing with 14 points and 14 rebounds. He is tied for fifth nationally as Little Rock leads the OVC with a combined 19 double-doubles as a team. He continues to lead the team in six statistical categories.
•
CJ White nearly posted a double-double against Morehead State, finishing with a team-high 15 points and nine rebounds, his second-straight game coming one rebound shy. Over the last nine games, White is third on the team in scoring (12.9 ppg), second in rebounding (7.2 rpg) and first in assists (4.8 apg.), ranking eighth nationally in assist/turnover ratio.
• Five different Trojans scored in double figures in the win over Morehead State, the ninth time this season Little Rock has accomplished that feat. In all, 10 different Trojans have combined for 94 double figure games, led by 22 for
Myron Gardner and 19 from
DeAntoni Gordon.
• Little Rock is getting set to play its fifth game of the season in the state of Tennessee, the most in program history. Saturday's game will also be the eighth this year against a team from the Volunteer State.
NEWS AND NOTES
SCOUTING THE SKYHAWKS
2022-23: 15-11 overall, 7-6 Ohio Valley Conference
Last Three Games: L at Eastern Illinois (77-75), L at Lindenwood (80-75), L at SIU Edwardsville (89-75)
Head Coach: Ryan Ridder (Embry-Riddle, 2008). Second season at UTM (23-33); Fifth season overall (63-56)
Key Players:
• #45 Parker Stewart (Gr., G): 16.3 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 40.9 FG%
• #2 KJ Simon (Sr., G): 15.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 46.5 FG%
• #3 Jordan Sears (So., G): 14.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 46.6 FG%
• #0 KK Curry (Jr., F): 8.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 59.7 FG%
• #10 Desmond Williams (Jr., G): 8.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 33.7 FG%
LAST WE MET
Behind double-doubles from
Myron Gardner and
DeAntoni Gordon and another strong performance from
Jordan Jefferson, Little Rock raced out to a sizable lead and held off a late UT Martin charge to take its Ohio Valley Conference debut, 88-74, at Simmons Bank Arena on December 29. Gardner scored 23 points and 10 rebounds while Gordon added 16 points and 12 rebounds as the Trojans shot 48.3% from the floor.
LAST TIME OUT
Facing a 10-point deficit in the second half, Little Rock once again staged a furious rally to get back in the game late. But this time, the Trojans were able to get over the hump, outscoring Morehead State 24-10 over a 10-minute span to knock off the Ohio Valley Conference leaders 72-68 Thursday. Five Trojans finished in double figures, tying a season-high for Little Rock, as six Trojans combined for 69 of Little Rock's 72 points on the night. That was led by a 15-point, nine-rebound performance for
CJ White as well as
Myron Gardner's OVC-best 14th double-double of the year, adding 14 points and 14 boards.
MR. DO IT ALL
Myron Gardner continues to pace Little Rock this season, leading the Ohio Valley Conference with his 14th double-double of the year against Morehead State Thursday, scoring 14 points with 14 rebounds. Gardner enters Saturday's game leading Little Rock in scoring (13.8 ppg), rebounding (9.5 rpg), assists (3.7 apg), steals (1.4 spg), minutes (31.1 mpg) and three point percentage (38.8%), second in blocks (0.4 bpg) and third in free throw percentage (74.6%).
CJ COMING UP BIG
CJ White continues to be a key factor in conference play, just missing another double-double against Morehead State with 15 points and nine rebounds. Over the last nine games, White has ranked third on the team in scoring (12.9), second in rebounding (7.2 rpg) and first in assists (4.8), registering a pair of double-doubles. White enters the week sitting eighth nationally in assist/turnover ratio at 3.04, sitting at 76 assists to just 25 turnovers.
PROVIDING CONSISTENCY
DeAntoni Gordon's 11 points Thursday against Morehead State was his 19th double figure game of the year, second most on the team. Gordon has provided consistency inside, ranking second on the team in scoring (12.7 ppg), rebounding (5.6 rpg)Â and qualifying free throw percentage (76.3%) while leading the team in blocks (13) and is third in field goal percentage (52.6%).
DOUBLE-DOUBLE CLUB
Myron Gardner notched his OVC-best 14th double-double of the year against Morehead State, finishing, fittingly, with 14 points and 14 rebounds. That is tied for fifth nationally as Little Rock has combined for 19 double-doubles this year, including three from
DeAntoni Gordon and a pair from
CJ White, which leads all OVC teams.
DOUBLE FIGURE TROJANS
10 different Trojans have combined for 94 double figure games this season with five different Trojans reaching the mark against Morehead State - the ninth time it has happened this season.
Myron Gardner leads all Trojans with 22 games in double figures this year and 31 for his career, scoring 10 or more points in 75.6% of his games as a Trojan (31-of-41), followed by
DeAntoni Gordon at 70.6% (24-of-34).
AGAINST THE VOLUNTEER STATE
Little Rock is getting set to play its eighth game against a team from the state of Tennessee and the fifth within the Volunteer state lines. In the previous seven games,
Myron Gardner and
DeAntoni Gordon are both averaging 14.3 points per game, grabbing 7.5 and 6.6 rebounds, respectively.
Chris Walker (10.6 ppg) and
Jordan Jefferson (10.4 ppg) are also averaging double figures against Tennessee teams this year.
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Little Rock heads back on the road where it is 1-14 in games away from the Little Rock metro area this year. The Trojans are seeking a winning streak in the state of Tennessee, knocking off Tennessee Tech 91-89 in Cookeville on January 28.
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